Can opener with removable hand lever and lever adjusting means



INVENTOR Haber? JT Scofi R. J. SCOTT AND LEVER ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Oct. 14, 1968 (JAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE HAND LEVER April 28, 1970 United States Patent 3,508,331 CAN OPENER WITH REMOVABLE HAND LEVER AND LEVER ADJUSTING MEANS Robert J. Scott, Blue Springs, Mo., assignor to Rival Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Oct. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 767,132 Int. Cl. B67b 7/38 US. Cl. 304 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrically powered can opener has a cutter wheel carrying hand lever pivotally attached to its forward upright frame by an elongate pin assembly. The push button operated latch releasably locks the pin assembly (and hand lever) to the can opener frame for pivotal movement therewithin. When in the locked or retained position, a movable latch bearing sleeve may be threadably moved to contact the latch mechanism so as to cause the pin assembly (and hand lever) to seat firmly in its attached position. Depressing the push button, which is located exteriorly of the can opener casing and/or frame, causes the latch to release the pin assembly so that the hand lever may be removed from the can opener frame. The movable bearing sleeve may be selectably moved as necessary to insure the proper contacting relationship between the latch and pin assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The removable hand lever concept was discussed in my earlier filed patent application entitled, Removable Hand Lever Construction, filed Jan. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 697,977, and also in the Robert E. McLean et al., application Ser. No. 707,166, filed Feb. 21, 1968, and entitled, Removable Hand Lever and Wear Compensating Can Opener Construction. Both of the above applications and the present subject application are owned by the same assignee.

The problem, e.g. that electrically powered can openers with permanent cutter wheels are diflicult to clean and maintain completely sanitary, has been clearly set forth in the above mentioned patent applications.

The invention disclosed herein also utilizes a push button operated latch which releasably engages and retains the hand lever elongate pin assembly in a pivotal position within the frame of the can opener. By depressing the push button, the latch moves out of engagement with the elongate pin assembly, thereby facilitating withdrawal and removal of the hand lever and cutter wheel from the can opener for cleaning or other purposes.

A significant feature of my present invention is that a movable bearing sleeve is threadably received within an embossed portion of the inner surface of the frame. This sleeve is movable against the latch (an elongate slotted structure) in such a manner that same will be forced against the pin assembly, thereby seating the pin assembly firmly but pivotally within the frame for normal operation. As a result, manufacturing variances of the affected parts are absorbed and compensated for, while at the same time the problem of loosely fitting movable parts resulting from normal wear during repeated use of the can opener may be simply and easily obviated by the selective adjustment of the bearing sleeve against the latch.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a readily removable can piercing lever assembly which carries a cutting element thereon and which is re- 3,508,331 Patented Apr. 28, 1970 tained in the can opener frame by a latch member and uniquely constructed latch biasing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a can opener of the character described, a threadably movable wear and parts variance latch positioning means which insures the optimal positioning of the latch and lever assembly at either the time of manufacture or after repeated use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivotally adjustable latch positioning means of the character described which includes a means for locking same at any selected position with respect to the frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a can opener of the character described, a unique structural arrangement of a can opener frame, latch member DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the power operated can opener embodying the pushbutton operated latch mechanism, the operating parts shown in a normal operation position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing the hand lever assembly in the retained or locked position;

FIG. 3 is a view of the right hand end of the View seen in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the combined front frame boss and threadably interconnected latch bearing sleeve; and

7 FIG. 5 is a sectional view generally taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral 10 generally designates a body or frame of a typical electrically operated can opener. The principal portion of the frame shown in the various views is the vertical or upright member 10a. This front frame ('10a) generally cooperates with an open front box-like casing 10a and provides supports for various moving parts of the can opener to be discussed hereinafter.

A serrated or toothed rotary can feed wheel is indicated by numeral 11 and is operatively located on the forward side of the frame 10a. Feed wheel shaft 12 extends through frame 10a and is rotatively supported in an appropriately bearinged aperture in an embossed portion of frame 10a. An electric motor means (not shown) rotates shaft 12 and drives feed wheel 11 in the conventional manner.

A pivotal can piercing hand lever 13 is located forwardly of frame 10a so as to provide a movable support for cutter wheel 14 which is mounted for free rotation on the usual stud or arbor anchored in lever 13 and held on the arbor by screw 15.

Hand lever 13 is mounted on an elongate pin assembly which extends through a suitable aperture in the lower left hand portion of the lever (see FIG. 1) and is secured thereto. As clearly seen in FIG. 2, the forwardly or outwardly extending portion of the assembly includes a cylindrical rod-like projection 16 which functions as a can guide. The intermediate portion of the pin assembly, 16a, is suitably secured to hand lever 13, such as by threading or welding same thereto. A jam nut 17 (threadably attached to the intermediate portion 16a) additionally secures, locates and lends stability against the outer face of the hand lever.

The rearward portion of the pin assembly includes a generally rodor shaft-like rearward extension 16b having an annular groove 160 near the inner end portion thereof. Rearward extension 16b is rotatively positioned within an aperture in an inwardly (or rearwardly) extending front frame boss b as mentioned above. As will be discussed later, boss 10b also serves as a support for a spring which biases the latch member.

In actual practice, the gross distance from the can piercing lever to the rear (or innermost) side of annular groove 160 may be set by adjusting portion 16:: and tightening jam nut 17 to any preselected dimension. The pin assembly (more particularly rearward extension 16b with its grooved end 16c) may be inserted through the aperture in boss 10b with groove 16c oriented in a vertical plane. As was disclosed in my application mentioned above, it is generally desirable that the distance from the inner surface of the hand lever to the annular groove be such that the end extremity of boss 10b extends beyond the forward side of groove 16c (note FIG. 2). Further, the relative diameters of rearward extension 16b of the pin assembly and of the aperture within the boss 10b (through which the rearward extension 16b extends) are selected to allow the pin assembly to rotate with the pivotal movement of hand lever 13.

A latch member 18, which serves to releasably lock the lever asembly within frame 10a, is mounted in a plane (vertical) that is substantially parallel with the front member 10a. A push button 18a is attached to the upper end portion of latch 18 and conveniently extends above the upper surface of the protective casing 10a of the can opener (see FIGS. l-3). The latch itself extends from button 18a interiorly of the can opener casing and is appropriately apertured and shaped to be accommodated therewithin.

To facilitate the attachment of the upper portion of latch 18 to push button 18a, two spaced apart legs 18a are located within tightly fitting receiving slots in the lower surface of the push button. A center cut out tab (same being formerly located between the two legs 18a) contains two 90 bends therein (see numeral 18b in FIG. 2). The tab, 18b, is flanged or turned down at its outer ends, 180, thereby lying in a plane substantially parallel to the main body of latch 18. The vertical portion of the tab (180) is used as a spring locating surface and is engageable within the upper open end of a compression spring 19. This tab is positioned directly over spring locating recess 100 which is dished out of the upper surface of boss 10b. In this manner compression spring 19 is operatively located between the upper portion of latch 18, i.e,. tab structure 18b and 180, and as dictated by its position within the spring locating recess 100. Accordingly, the downward movement of latch 18 is against the spring 19.

A keyhole shaped slot 20 is located in latch 18 at the approximate mid-section thereof. The slot is so oriented with respect to the annular groove 16c and rearward extension 16b that when the latch is in the solid line position of FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower narrow portion of the slot is aligned with the pin assembly (extension 16b). The normal position of same is with annular groove 16c engaged by the latch surface on or near the keyhole slot. This is due to the upward force exerted on the latch by compression spring 19.

The lower portion of latch 18 has a rectangularly shaped slot 21 located therein. Truss head screw 22 extends therethrough and is threadably received within boss 23. This slot limits the up and down movement of the latch and also helps maintain the lower portion of the latch in its proper plane.

In order to selectively locate latch 18 relative to annular groove 160 (which may be as desired at time of the initial assembly or at any time thereafter), a latch bearing sleeve 24 is threadably received from the rearward side by boss 10b. This sleeve (24) is cylindrical in shape, externally threaded and has a hex head 24a on its rearward end thereof relative to frame 10a. The hexagonal or noncircular head portion 24a of sleeve 24 provides a wide area latch contacting surface and may be moved out of boss 10b and made to seat firmly against latch 18. The area of contact of the rear surface bearing sleeve head 24a is on and around keyhole slot 20 so that the latch is forced against the rear vertical face of groove to axially position pin 16a and lever 13 assembly relative to frame 10a.

Once bearing sleeve 24 has been optimally located for preferred latching action, set screw 24b, which extends through boss 10b, may be tightened downwardly to seat on the external threads of sleeve 24. In this manner, the bearing sleeve 24 is fixedly located or locked after it has been adjusted for proper positioning relative to latch 18.

In operation, my invention facilitates the removal of the can piercing lever (including the cutting element mounted thereon), while at the same time it provides an adjustable means to insure the needed firm seating of the lever assembly against the can opener frame. As mentioned above, and as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pin assembly is maintained in its pivotal position within frame 10a by latch 18. In the solid line position shown in these figures, the smaller portion of keyhole slot 20 substantially circumscribes the annular groove 16c so that the sides of latch 18 immediately adjacent to the lower portion of this slot contact the rear surface of the annular groove 16c and retain or lock lever 13 for pivotal movement within frame 10a. The fit of lever 13 relative to the frame 10a may be varied by the positioning of bearing sleeve 24. As disclosed in FIG. 2, the length of the internally threaded bore of boss 10b is such as will permit any required adjustment of the bearing sleeve 24.

When it is desired to remove hand lever 13 for cleaning purposes, etc., push button 1811 may be manually depressed so that latch 18 moves downwardly, compressing spring ;19 and locating the larger portion of keyhole slot 20 substantially concentric with the annular groove 160 on extension 16b. The slot area of the upper portion is sufficiently large to permit lever 13 and its associated pin assembly to be slidably removed from the can opener frame. The procedure is merely reversed for the reintallation of the lever assembly within the frame. The compression spring 19 acts to cause the automatic return of latch '18 to its pin assembly retaining position.

My invention has provided a simple and inexpensive means for absorbing any variances in the manufacture of either the can opener frame or the latch member itself. In this manner also, normal wear and unwanted loose fitting parts may be either compensated for at the time of assembly or after repeated use thereof merely by adjusting latch bearing sleeve 24 in the proper direction. Locking set screw 24b fixedly locates sleeve 24 once it has been positioned for optimal latching efliciency and operation.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

"It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

a releasable locking means holding said lever assembly to preclude unintentional detachment of same from said frame, said locking means being operatively accessible exteriorly of said frame to be actuated for movement between a latched position and a release position wherein said lever assembly respectively is either movably locked to or may be detached from said frame, and

a bearing sleeve having at least a portion thereof threadably engaged within said frame, said sleeve {having at least one surface thereof which contacts said locking means and operable to be threadably moved between said frame and said locking means to locate at least a portion of said lever assembly at a preselected spatial position relative to said frame when said locking means is in said latched position.

12. The invention as in claim 1 including a means for locking said sleeve at selected distances from said frame.

3. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said lever assembly has a shaft member aifixed thereto, said shaft member being rotatably positioned within said frame thereby pivotally attaching said lever to said frame, said locking means including a latch engageable with said shaft member, said shaft member supporting said lever on an intermediate portion thereof, an annular groove formed in one end portion of said shaft member, said end portion extending interiorly of said frame, said latch having a slot defined therein, said slot operatively associated with said shaft to allow said latch member to be engaged within said groove when said latch is 'in said latched position thereby precluding withdrawal of said lever from said frame, said sleeve being threadably engaged within said frame and movable with respect thereto to maintain said latch in an optimum operating position with respect to said shaft member.

4. The invention as in claim 3 wherein said can opener includes a means for biasing siad latch to normally look said hand lever assembly for pivotal movement with respect to said frame, said biasing means including a compression spring located between said frame and said latch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,810,952 10/ 1957 Sundell 30-4 3,018,548 1/ 1962 Rogers et al. 304 3,253,334 5/1966 McLean 304 3,277,570 10/1966 McLean 30--4 JAMES L. JON-ES, IR., Primary Examiner 

